Wednesday, March 18, 2009

a Nap before the Big One

Since my last tourney I've played over 100 blitz games and studied the troublesome positions with an International Master. This week I'm resting up, hitting the deep tactics, and reading Heisman's time management articles. All signs point to conquest.

Except, deep down, I know my understanding of positional chess is infantile and I require my opponents to make a tactical error to succeed. See the games below. At least one of my opponents will play tactically sound chess. And he's going to be a struggle.

12 comments:

Second, why is it that the quality of your play much better in the first game then in the second game? Something to do with the rating of the opponent? Psychologicly giving yourself no chance at the start of game?

5.d5 seems premature. By fixing the center, you give black a free hand to pursue the plan of g6, f5, etc.

10.f4 allows black to open up the long diagonal for his g7 bishop. You've transposed to a sort of King's Indian (with black having saved a tempo), so perhaps f3 is called for, followed by expanding on the queenside.

12 - 14 the trades have placed the black knights on good posts. Instead let him do the work (of trading) while you develop pieces.

15 Play is going to be in the wide-open center, so the queen doesn't belong on b3.

chesstiger, did it differ? As I see it, I had a strong opening and played well tactically in both games. But I ignored my development. Mr. 1400 didn't know how to take advantage... heck, he let me take on the black army with one piece! Mr. 2400 knew exactly how to take advantage of better development and the results were devastating.

trallala, aye. The difference in knowledge between a 1400 and a 2400 is incredible.

10.f4: Exactly! Unfortunately, I had never played against the KID before--in most move orders I avoid it--and f3 ...f4 looked scary although now I know White also has his chances on the queenside. It's a race.

12-14: Aye. After move 14 my position is very hard to defend.

15: Of course, but hanging the c4 pawn would also be bad and b3 loses. It's a tough position--hopefully I will do a better job developing next time.

"I don't expect hanging pieces" - actually, I would! (Ok, maybe only once.) Even with this slow a time control, all your opponents will make a tactical mistake at some point if you give them a chance - the question is whether you can make it happen and whether you can take advantage ;)Good luck!